Alsat-1B Explained

Alsat-1B
Mission Type:Earth observation
Operator:Algerian Space Agency
Manufacturer:SSTL
Launch Mass:103kg (227lb)[1]
Launch Date: UTC
Launch Rocket:PSLV-C35
Launch Site:Sriharikota
Orbit Regime:Sun synchronous
Orbit Periapsis:700km (400miles)
Orbit Apoapsis:700km (400miles)
Orbit Inclination:98 degrees
Orbit Period:98.5 min

Alsat-1B is an Algerian satellite operated by the Agence Spatiale Algerienne for agricultural and disaster monitoring.[2] [3] The contract for the mission was signed in July 2014. The satellite is based on the SSTL-100 bus. The satellite weighs and carries an Earth imaging payload with 12m (39feet) panchromatic imager and 24m (79feet) multispectral cameras.[4]

Construction

The satellite had high participation from ASAL, with eighteen engineers that worked on assembly, integration, and test. Additionally, at the University of Surrey, 18 students used the satellite as a part of their graduate degree research.

Launch

The satellite was launched on 26 September 2016 into a 670km (420miles) altitude polar orbit by ISRO using the PSLV-C35 rocket.[5] It was launched with several other satellites. The primary payload was SCATSAT 1, which was launched into a Polar Sun Synchronous Orbit. This was the first time PSLV launched satellites into different orbits. Algeria had three satellites that it will operate launch in that group, which were AlSat-1B, AlSat 2B, and AlSat-Nano. AlSat-2B also had imaging capabilities, but they are higher resolution than AlSat-1B. Of the eight satellites launched by PSLV, five of them were foreign. The remaining satellites were BlackSky Pathfinder 1, Pratham, PISat, and CanX 7.

Alsat-1B uses three body mounted solar panels for power generation, and a 15 Amp-hour Li-ion battery for power storage. It uses warm gas, butane powered resistojets for propulsion. The attitude control system uses Sun sensors and magnetometers.[6]

Related articles

Algeria national space programs

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mission. Surrey Satellite Technology Limited. 2016-10-30. 2016-10-31. https://web.archive.org/web/20161031085322/https://www.sstl.co.uk/Missions/Alsat-1B-Launched-2016. dead.
  2. Web site: Alsat-1B satellite mission . Surrey Satellite Technology Limited . 2014-07-10 . 2016-09-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161001161554/https://www.sstl.co.uk/Missions/Alsat-1B/Alsat-1B/Alsat-1B--The-Mission . 2016-10-01 . dead .
  3. Web site: AlSat 1B . Gunter's Space Page . 2014-07-10 . 2016-09-27.
  4. Web site: William. Graham . ISRO PSLV conducts SCATSAT-1 launch . 25 September 2016 . NASASpaceFlight.com . 2016-09-27.
  5. Web site: PSLV-C35 launch: Double orbit satellite deployment boosts ISRO's commercial prospects . The Indian Express . 1976-09-27 . 2016-09-27.
  6. Web site: AlSat-1B. 2016-10-30. Spaceflight101.com. 26 September 2016 .